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Health Info & Resources for Seniors

Inactivity can lead to a number of health and personal issues, including weight gain, onset of chronic and acute illness and even low productivity in work and daily life. Constant activity can prevent and may even reverse many of these issues. Moving around – by walking, running, even fidgeting in your seat, can help boost a person’s overall health.

Fitness trackers are one popular way to keep track of your progress. Depending on the tracker, wearers can track steps, calories, distance traveled, caloric intake, and even heart rate and sleep. Some even offer GPS tracking to map your distance and pace.

Personal AccountabilityFitness trackers track your goals and your progress, psychologically encouraging you to walk more steps than you did yesterday, to sustain that peak heart rate for just a little longer. Research shows that wearing a fitness tracker – even if it’s just a basic pedometer! – can increase a user’s activity levels by 30 percent!

Individually Tailored GoalsMost fitness trackers have workouts, tips, and realistic goals you can set for yourself. It puts you in charge of your fitness and health.

Financial MotivationMany models of fitness trackers are retail-priced at over $100. This is part of that psychological encouragement. If you’re dropping the cash for it, you might as well use it.

Up-to-date Weight Loss ToolSeeing your activity levels, noticing whether you are in the correct heart rate zone and comparing your weight on the scale after a few weeks can determine whether or not you’re on the right track to your desired weight.

Group DynamicMany people also enjoy the benefits of posting their activities on social media. That in itself can motivate you to keep fit.

Painless Record-keepingMost trackers will automatically sync tracking activity via Bluetooth to your smart phone. Some trackers have the option of being manually plugged into a computer via USB to upload information. Sleep too! – Some fitness trackers can determine the quality of your sleep based on your movement during sleep. Sleep is important to your health. Tracking it can help guide you toward better health.

Local Fitness OrganizationsWomen’s WorkshopIf you are not a regular walker or runner, First Strides, for women only, can help you learn to safely embark on a regular fitness routine. The 12-week workshop teaches training principals, injury prevention and other tips; each week you will walk or run farther. For info: firststrides.wordpress.com. Get Out!The Lehigh Valley Health Network is a consortium of hospitals, health centers, clinics and physicians in the Lehigh Valley. Get Out! is a healthy outdoor activity program. Walks usually range from 1 to 3 miles and last for a few hours. MeetupsYou can find people with similar goals in some of the Meetup groups in the Lehigh Valley. Search the Internet at meetup.com.Lehigh Valley Road Runners Promotes running and walking in the greater LV area. Over 400 members who participate and volunteer at club races and events. For more info: lvrr.org.Get Your Tail on the TrailA continuous 165-mile multi-use D&L Trail that stretches from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol, PA. The free program aims to help people of all ages and abilities to meet their personal fitness goals through day-to-day challenges, public events, and incentives. For more info: tailonthetrail.org

Today, more than 72,000 Americans have reached the age of 100 and that exclusive club is growing. Between 2000 and 2016, the percentage of centenarians increased by more than 43 percent. Whether you aspire...